STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
stylethread site home page -> stylethread forum -> general chat -> I need some "Baby" advice.......
Post Info TOPIC: I need some "Baby" advice.......
rar210


Marc Jacobs

Status: Offline
Posts: 2409
Date:
I need some "Baby" advice.......
Permalink Closed

My husband and I have been married over 4 years, together 8.  Lately we have been talking more and more about having a baby.  We only want one so we're in no major rush but this is the first time we've both actually been on the same page and have both been excited to talk/think about it in the near future.  It's fun and scary at the same time.  I'm a major planner and like to really think out things before doing them.  I guess my major question is, how do I better prepare myself?

__________________
shopgirl82


Chanel

Status: Offline
Posts: 3197
Date:
RE: I need some "Baby" advice.......
Permalink Closed

 


well, the medical advice is to start taking your prenatal vitamins now. 



__________________
"i tell you one lesson I learned If you want to be something in life, You ain't gonna get it unless, You give a little bit of sacrifice, Oohh, sometimes before you smile you got to cry.." -The Roots
Irene


Dooney & Bourke

Status: Offline
Posts: 818
Date:
Permalink Closed

Hi,


I think one of the first things you should do is go to your doctor and have a full check up. A DNA screen may be good too. Your doctor will tell you what you need to do to prepare your body, including increasing your folic acid intake.


Thats all I have. HTH.


-Irene



__________________
rar210


Marc Jacobs

Status: Offline
Posts: 2409
Date:
Permalink Closed

I've seen the Doctor and take the recommened vitamins and folic acid.  Thr Dr. said when I'm ready, simply stop taking my pill and be patient......

__________________
Elle


Hermes

Status: Offline
Posts: 7139
Date:
RE: I need some "Baby" advice.......
Permalink Closed

I recommend getting the book called Taking Charge of Your Fertility - it has lots of good recs on preparing to conceive.


Also,  check out this site:


http://www.altdotlife.com/forum/


you have to register to read and post, but it's soooo worth it.  There are tons of other women on there in various stages of thinking about getting pregnant all the way through dealing with young childhood.


Also, some women have boosted fertility for a few months after coming off the pill, and others take months to return to normal ovulating cycles.  So if you're not on any specific timetable and are fine with waiting, by all means do it!  But if you're more impatient, you might consider going off your BC earlier than anticipated and using a backup method for a few months while your body readjusts.


HTH!



-- Edited by Elle at 13:29, 2006-03-02

__________________
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment ~ {Ralph Waldo Emerson}
jj


Kate Spade

Status: Offline
Posts: 1212
Date:
RE: I need some "Baby" advice.......
Permalink Closed

Did your Doctor/OBGyn do a blood test?  Mine did when I told her we were thinking about getting pregnant, and I didn't even know it was necessary.


Anyway, turned out I was not immune to chicken pox (even though I had it when I was 3!) and I had to get vaccinated.  Even though the chances of getting CP or shingles as an adult is rare, it's really really dangerous when you're pregnant (birth defects, etc...).  Weird!


You may be young enough that you got the vaccine, but thought I would pass that along just in case



__________________
ILoveChoo


Hermes

Status: Offline
Posts: 5131
Date:
Permalink Closed

I'm sorry- Elle how on earth do you know so much? You are like a walkign encyclopedia- I am in such awe of you!


I have no advice to add, but will be reading this too since we've also been having this conversation lately.



__________________
"Life's too short to wear ugly shoes."

My recipe blog: healthy-delicious.com
Elle


Hermes

Status: Offline
Posts: 7139
Date:
RE: I need some "Baby" advice.......
Permalink Closed

ILoveChoo wrote:


I'm sorry- Elle how on earth do you know so much? You are like a walkign encyclopedia- I am in such awe of you! I have no advice to add, but will be reading this too since we've also been having this conversation lately.


I read almost as much about conceiving/pregnancy/child related stuff as I do about fashion, since it takes me awhile of accumulating information to be truly comfortable with change .  It's in our future as well, so I consider it all to be pre preliminary research as I vow that I will not be one of the those women who are clueless about what's going on with their own bodies during trying to conceive/pregnancy/birth.  Hence the spouting of info !


A couple other things - genetic screening is probably not needed unless you're (and by 'you' I mean both you and your husband) a member of certain ethnic groups or you have a family history of diseases that are passed genetically.  In fact, if you don't have any specific risk factors your insurance would not likely cover any genetic screening.  It is a good idea to have your immunities checked and updated though.


And, I know we've all been told how important prenatal care is and to run to the doctor as soon as you get a positive home pregnancy test.  But really, most docs won't even see you until you're between 8 and 10 weeks unless you have a history of certain medical conditions or a history of miscarriage.  So it's kind of a 'hurry up and wait' scenario, ya know?



-- Edited by Elle at 14:03, 2006-03-02

__________________
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment ~ {Ralph Waldo Emerson}
blink


Coach

Status: Offline
Posts: 1652
Date:
RE: I need some "Baby" advice.......
Permalink Closed

Ok, my advice is totally different than the rest, but of course I agree with all the other posts about researching and such for planning a pregnancy.  Once I had a baby, I realized I had been only really thinking about pregnancy concerns and hadn't absorbed anything real about taking care of, breastfeeding, comforting, and playing with a newborn.  So my advice is to consult with other young parents if have friends with kids, spend time with friend's babies if they have them, browse through a baby magazine at the bookstore, look into some baby care books (my favorite author is Dr. William Sears), and generally familiarize yourself with babies and modern concerns (like the latest from the AAP, etc.).



__________________
"Go either very cheap or very expensive. It's the middle ground that is fashion nowhere." ~ Karl Lagerfeld
JMR


Dooney & Bourke

Status: Offline
Posts: 801
Date:
Permalink Closed

Taking charge of your fertility is a great book - I know a lot of women that swear by it.


Everyone gave really good advice - def. talk to your GYN about it - they will guide you in the right direction.


I just wanted to add that I got pregnant the first time we tried - which was my second month off the pill - you are more fertile the first three months you are off the pill - just keep that in mind!


 



__________________
Renee


Kenneth Cole

Status: Offline
Posts: 451
Date:
Permalink Closed

Just do a regular check-up, go off the pill, and wait - that's what I did Regular exercise is also very good for you, so if you're not exercising, this is a good time to start. As for the doctors, they really don't want to see you before 8 weeks. I was seen at 7 weeks but that's because I pressed. It is *very* important to have a good OBGyn, so you might want to do some scouting in advance.


One important thing I did was to get a flu shot. I usually have flu 2-3 times in the winter, and it could be dangerous while you're in your 1st trimester, so if you plan to be pregnant in the flu season, get a shot. But *not* while you're pregnant. Also, if you think you might be pregnant, try not to take any strong medications unless your doctor approves. Some are OK and some are not.


Good luck



__________________
relrel


Marc Jacobs

Status: Offline
Posts: 2065
Date:
Permalink Closed


Renee wrote:

 One important thing I did was to get a flu shot. I usually have flu 2-3 times in the winter, and it could be dangerous while you're in your 1st trimester, so if you plan to be pregnant in the flu season, get a shot. But *not* while you're pregnant. 


i second this, get a flu shot! it's actually quite important to do this because if you get the flu while pregnant (and keep this in mind for next season/year as well) it's quite dangerous for the baby. what happens when you get the flu is you become really dehydrated which is one of the major causes of early labor. getting the flushot could save you from going into labor early! oh, and it is okay to get the flu shot WHILE pregnant, just not the nasal spray form of the vaccination. just check with your doc about certain things...allergies to other flu shots and eggs in particular. but all in all, talk to your doctor.



__________________
"But I want you to remember, I intend this breast satirically." Susan from Coupling

http://qtipsandmammoths.blogspot.com/
MissMee


Kate Spade

Status: Offline
Posts: 1431
Date:
RE: I need some "Baby" advice.......
Permalink Closed

I'm fairly opposite of most women trying to conceive in that I seem to be a champ at it.  I can give you some pointers on what has worked for me (and I have 3 kids, the last 2 were on the first try).  It'll be fairly graphic, so fair warning............


1.  I tried that basal body temperature crap and it never worked.  It will drive you insane, and I fully believe all the worrying will make you less likely to conceive.  Throw out the thermo and just do it!  Literally.


2.  I always knew when I was ovulating because I would be ravenously horny.  Any other day I could care less about sex or men in general, but on ovulation day - watch out!  So pay attention to your "moods," because women's bodies know when they want to be impregnated.


3.  Always try for the big O, whether it happens during or after (manually).  This has worked every time.  When you have the O, your cervix kind of acts like a straw or the little sucker thing on a fly.  It will actually dip down and suck up the sperm.  Disgusting, I know, but it's true.  That just increases the liklihood that the swimmers will at least get into the room they need to be in instead of just wondering around in the hallway.


4.  Pay close attention to your body for a few days afterward, too.  I always got extremely emotional (like PMS) and my boobs would be sore just a little.


5.  Don't worry about it too much.  Like your doc said, when you're ready, get going.  Don't *try* per se.  That takes the fun out of it and will stress you both out.  Stress can keep you from ovulating or at least prevent things from progressing naturally.


pm me if you need more info, but I'm guessing that was graphic enough



-- Edited by MissMee at 16:38, 2006-03-02

__________________
The only rule is don't be boring and dress cute wherever you go. Life is too short to blend in.  Paris Hilton
Elle


Hermes

Status: Offline
Posts: 7139
Date:
RE: I need some "Baby" advice.......
Permalink Closed

MissMee wrote:

1.  I tried that basal body temperature crap and it never worked.  It will drive you insane, and I fully believe all the worrying will make you less likely to conceive.  Throw out the thermo and just do it!  Literally.
MissMee - how long did you chart for before you gave up on it?

__________________
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment ~ {Ralph Waldo Emerson}
MissMee


Kate Spade

Status: Offline
Posts: 1431
Date:
Permalink Closed

Almost a year.  I was very religious about it, charting it, marking it, etc.  What a waste!  I think as soon as I stopped doing it, I got preggo.  That was my first kid, BTW.  I didn't know any other way.

__________________
The only rule is don't be boring and dress cute wherever you go. Life is too short to blend in.  Paris Hilton
Elle


Hermes

Status: Offline
Posts: 7139
Date:
Permalink Closed

Well, nothing works for everyone.  Glad your way worked out for you!

__________________
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment ~ {Ralph Waldo Emerson}
itsapinkthing


Coach

Status: Offline
Posts: 1788
Date:
Permalink Closed

Everyone has already given such excellent advice. IMO part of it is to know you reqally can't plan and prepare for everything...But I do feel taking an educated route will help you feel comfortable.

Also another helpful site with lots of resources and information is www.babyfit.com

__________________
hotcocoa


Kate Spade

Status: Offline
Posts: 1330
Date:
Permalink Closed


MissMee wrote:
Almost a year.  I was very religious about it, charting it, marking it, etc.  What a waste!  I think as soon as I stopped doing it, I got preggo.  That was my first kid, BTW.  I didn't know any other way.


miss mee, i love reading this. i've been charting for the past few months simply because my cycles haven't been "normal" since my son was born. it makes me absolutely nuts! it's so unnatural. this morning i slept in a bit so i didn't bother taking my temperature because i knew it would screw the whole damn chart up. i thought about just shoving it all in the bedside table and forgetting about it. after reading this i'm seriously considering giving it up. i hate it.

anyway miss rar210, everyone has given such good advice. since you are a self proclaimed "planner" i'm sure you'll do all the reading and research you need to do to feel comfortable with your decision. my doctor gave me the best advice when i told her i wanted to get pregnant. she said, "stop taking your BC, wait three months for your body to adjust and then relax and have fun. it'll happen when it happens". it's so true. and as itsapinkthing mentioned. you cannot possibly prepare and plan for everything so don't be afraid to let your instincts guide you when you run into something you hadn't prepared for.

__________________
ak
rar210


Marc Jacobs

Status: Offline
Posts: 2409
Date:
Permalink Closed

Thanks Ladies! I apprecite all of your advice.  I just worry so much and want to make sure I'm preparred as much as possible.  I totally understand that there are things that will come up that I didn't/couldn't plan in advance.  We haven't started trying yet, we're still in the early stages but I can definelty see us starting soon.  Thanks Again!!


If anyone else has any advise as anytime, please feel free to post!!



__________________
erin


Chanel

Status: Offline
Posts: 3274
Date:
Permalink Closed


MissMee wrote:
2.  I always knew when I was ovulating because I would be ravenously horny.  Any other day I could care less about sex or men in general, but on ovulation day - watch out!  So pay attention to your "moods," because women's bodies know when they want to be impregnated.



this is me absolutely. i didn't bother charting because i swear i could tell when i was ovulating. i got pregnant a month after we started trying.

__________________
1 2  >  Last»  | Page of 2  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
stylethread site home page -> stylethread forum -> general chat -> I need some "Baby" advice.......
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard